FLOATING OF THE 'BALLARAT.'

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 538, 18 October 1864, Page 4

FLOATING OF THE ' BALLARAT.'

(From the N. Z. Herald, Oct. 12.) Oue readers will remember that this fine steamer was stranded about three months ago, at a placa called Te Hori, about a mile and a half south of the'Mahia isthmus in Hawke's Bay. A few days afterwards, ■ the wreck was sold by auction in Auckland, to Mr. George. Beddoes of the iSorth Shore. At the time of the sale we believe that few entertained the idea that the vessel could be again floated, and that all that could be done was to try and save the boilor and machinery. Mr. Beddoes," however, appears to have been more sanguine, for that gentleman immediately chartered the schooner ' Mary Thompson, ' Capt. O'Connell, and left Auckland on the 23rd August, with Capt. Short, Mr. Alex. Crawford, Engineer, and sixteen shipwrights and labourers. The schooner had strong head winds all the way down, and did not reach the Mahia until the 16th. On landiug Mr. Beddoes found the ' Ballarat ' high and dry on a small table land at the mouth of a gully, with the bow edge into one bank and the stern high up on the opposite bank. An enormous mass of clayey loam, stones,' aud sand, had accumulated round the vessel, reaching to the paddle boxes. To clear away this immense heap, cost three weeks of hard and incessant labour from the whole party, during which, they had not more than three or four fine days. The vessel was found to have sustained but trifling damage — a few plates on her bottom being all the repairs she required. Some thirty or forty trees having been felled in the neighbouring forest and prepared for ways, the vessel was made ready for launching on the loth September. The distance to low water mark was about 170 feet, and the vessel on being started on the ways glided smoothly down for about 2°5 feet, when some forty or fifty maoris, who had come from the neighbouring settlements to see the launch, made a sudden rush to the stern whilst the vessel was moving and pushed with all their might. This was kindly meant, but it proved a most unfortunate affair. The sudden impetus given to one end of the vessel caused her to slew round on the ways stern foremost, to tear off the ribbons,and then settle quietly down. It is the firm belief of all present, that if the natives had kept away from the vessel, or had distributed themselves along her broadside, the vessel would have gone straight into the water. All attempts to float her into the water failed. J3he was now in a worse position than before, for had bad weather set in, she would, in all probability, have been seriously damaged, if not broken up. Fortunately, the weather kept fine, but the vessel had to be raised four feet on the ways to keep clear of the mass of sand which was heaped round her by every tide, and then screwed down foot by foot into the water. A fortnight was spent in this laborious and harassing work, during which time the ways were frequently washed up by the surf, aud dashed about the beach. The vessel floated in the afternoon of the 29th September, and was safely anchored off whilst taking in coals from the Mary Thompson. The party were making preparations for leaving. A south-easter springing up, however, it became necessary to get up steam and put to sea. The last boat from the shore was unable to reach the steamer before she was obliged to start, and, to make the matter worse, this boat was capsized in the surf in trying to return ashore. Fortunately all escaped with a good drenching. The vessel run in under Long Point for the night, being piloted there through the darkness by Mr. Campbell, a highly respectable settler of Kini Kini, ■who with his neighbours, Messrs. Smith, Greening, Bartley and Morris, behaved in the most kindly and hospitable manner to Mr. Beddoes and party during their six weeks' stay amongst them. Having picked up the remainder of the party on the following morning, the steamer, under the command of Captain Short, went on to Napier. As the ' Ballarat' was drawing only 3ft. 6in., with some 50 tons of coals as cargo, she was enabled to steam close into the wharf at low water — a performance which suggested to several gentlemen in Napier the desirability of securing her for the trade of the harbour. At Mr. Beddoes' request, a survey of the vessel took place, which resulted in a highly satisfactory report. The Superintendent of the Province and several members of the Provincial Council afterwards visited her, and we understand she is likely to be purchased for the use of the harbour. She has been newly registered under the name of the 'Napier,' aud remaius in charge of Captain Short. Mr. Beddoes speaks in the highest terms of the engineer, Mr. Crawford, and of the patience constancy, and good conduct of all the workmen under the very trying circumstances in which they have been placed. The ' Ballarat ' is the first instance of a wrecked steamer being again floated off the coast of New Zealand, and we heartily congratulate Mr. Beddoes upon the success which has attended his spirited undertaking.